Cover9@9: 9 things to know about ‘Camp Julio’

Good morning! Welcome to the Cover 9@9 blog. It’s our weekly list of nine things at 9 a.m. Wednesday that you need to know about the Atlanta Falcons.

1. Falcons must manage Jones situation: The lines are drawn.

The Falcons have their position and Julio Jones has his.

The Falcons must manage it properly so that it doesn’t go sideways on them. The team has a point about wanting to take care of Jones next season, but will that be enough to appease Jones.

The Falcons don’t need the situation to turn ugly.

If things get real nasty, Jones could be expected to return around the NFL trading deadline, which is Oct. 30. The Falcons will have played seven games by the trading deadline.

“Sometimes players decide ‘I don’t want money anymore. I want out of town,’” said Joel Corry of CBSSports.com told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I’ve been through that situation as well. In 2003, with (Tampa Bay wide receiver) Keenan McCardell. He had two years left and it was apparent that Tampa wasn’t going to pay him. Our strategy shifted to do everything we can to get out of town. He got traded to the Chargers at the trading deadline.”

Last season, Houston traded offensive lineman Duane Brown to Seattle at the trading deadline after it became apparent they were not going to reach a deal.

The Falcons have to figure out a way to make Jones happy, while also keeping their long-term salary cap management structure in place.

“Camp Julio” is set to start with the players reporting on Thursday. The first practice is Friday.

2. Falcons worth $2.475 billion: The Falcons are the 29th most valuable sports franchise in the world, according to Forbes, with a worth $2.4 billion. Owner Arthur Blank purchased the team for $541 million in 2002 after stepping down as co-chairman of Home Depot.

The Falcons, with Jones on board, are Super Bowl contenders. Without Jones, they would likely be an 8-8 team.

“That’s where his power is,” Corry said. “They don’t have anyone who could remotely replace him in the passing game. They have Super Bowl aspirations, but at the same time they don’t want to do anything. Teams hate establishing new precedent.”

4. On deck for deals: The Falcons have put a priority on contract extensions for defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, left tackle Jake Matthews and free safety Ricardo Allen.

“There is more urgency because they have expiring contracts whereas Julio’s (contract) doesn’t,” Corry said. “That’s where the Falcons want to focus their attention.”

5. Cellini Poll. Fans are siding with the team according to poll on 680TheFan’s Nick Cellini’s twitter page.